Springbrook leatherwood facts for kids

The Springbrook leatherwood (Eucryphia jinksii) is a very rare type of rainforest tree found in Australia. It grows naturally in the states of Queensland and New South Wales. This special tree belongs to the plant family called Cunoniaceae.

These trees can grow quite tall, sometimes reaching up to 30 meters (about 100 feet)! Even though they are large, scientists only discovered Eucryphia jinksii as a new species in 1994. It was found by a person named David Jinks. Because it is so rare and only grows in a few small areas, the Springbrook leatherwood is officially listed as an "endangered" plant. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever if we don't protect it. The Queensland government officially listed it as endangered in 2013.

Where the Springbrook Leatherwood Lives

The Springbrook leatherwood is found in only a few specific places.

Its Home in Queensland

• Most of these trees live in a special type of warm rainforest on the Springbrook Plateau in Queensland. They are found near a single creek.
• Another group of these plants was found in the Springbrook area. These ones don't grow as tall trees, but instead form a thick group of smaller, multi-stemmed shrubs on a windy clifftop.

Its Home in New South Wales

• You can also find the Springbrook leatherwood in New South Wales. Here, it grows in the Numinbah Nature Reserve. This area is part of the Mount Warning caldera, which is a large bowl-shaped area formed by an ancient volcano.

What the Springbrook Leatherwood Looks Like

The Springbrook leatherwood tree has some unique features that help identify it.

Bark and Leaves

• The bark of E. jinksii trees is usually pale and often covered with lichen. Lichen is a type of moss-like growth that is common on trees in warm rainforests.
• Around the bottom of an adult tree, you might see a ring of new shoots growing. These are called "coppice shoots."
• Young leaves, both from seedlings and coppice shoots, usually have 5 to 7 smaller leaf parts, called leaflets.
• Adult leaves are simpler, with only 1 to 3 leaflets.

Flowers and Fruit

• The flowers of the Springbrook leatherwood are a creamy color. Each flower has four petals and many stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen.
• Other types of Eucryphia trees are famous for their honey! Bees that visit these trees make a rich, tasty honey known as Leatherwood Honey. Scientists think that the Springbrook leatherwood could also be very good for honey production.
• After the flowers, the tree produces small, brown fruits. These fruits are capsules with several sections inside, and they hold tiny seeds.